Scene of the crisis
Lord Adair Turner, author of the recent Pensions Report, and the Chancellor Gordon Brown today had a "moderately heated conversation" on the subject of pensions, NMH can exclusively reveal.
During the exchange, which is the climax of a week of mounting tension, both men are said to have raised their voices by at least a third of a decibel above their habitual speaking volume.
The contretemps occurred in the House of Commons urinals, when Gordon Brown told Lord Turner, who happened to be at the adjacent receptacle, that he believed his pensions reforms were "unaffordable".
In response, Turner told the Chancellor, "It is premature to dismiss the possibility that pensions could be linked to earnings rather than inflation."
Brown was then heard to mutter, "Means-testing bastard", prompting the life peer to spray an unknown quantity of pee on his foot.
Further violence was only prevented by the intervention of one of the Chancellor's aides, who said, "He's not worth it, Gordon," and led him out of the room.
Both sides are understood to be considering legal action.
